Diving mask with pressure equalizing ear cups



Nov. 15, 1949 w. R. PFEIFFER 2,488,235

DIVING MASK WITH PRESSURE EQUALIZING EAR CUPS Filed July 11, 1947 I Patented Nov. 15, 1949 UNITED sures earner o-rFlcE DIVING MASK WITH PRESSURE EQUALIZING EAR CUPS Walter R. Pfeiifer, San Gabriel, Calif.

Application July 11, 1947, Serial No. 760,518

2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in masks of the type used by divers and under water swimmers in following the sport of spearing or catching fish under water, this sport being popularly known as skin diving.

Masks of the type above noted cover the eyes and nose and have a transparent front or lens affording full vision under water. It is the practice of the users of such masks to exhale through the nose to build up a pressure within the mask to counteract the pressure of the water against the exterior of the mask. The water pressure against the outer sides of the eardrums can only be equalized by the back pressure through the eustachian tube of the wearer and due to the small size of this tube, the equalizing of pressure on the eardrums is seldom properly effected in normal persons and never where the eustachian tube is clogged or otherwise fails to function. For a this reason devotees of the skin diving sport are often subjected to ear discomfort or strains with frequent painful affliction of the eardrums.

It is the primary purpose of my invention to provide a mask of the character described which has associated therewith ear-covering cups and a conduit means for connecting the interior of the mask with the interior of the cups so that the equalizing pressure caused by exhalation through the nose into the mask will build up alike in the mask and cups and thus equalize pressure on the eardrums and eliminate the pain, discomfort and possible ear injury heretofore experienced.

Another object is to provide a mask-ear cup unit such as described in which the means for holding the mask in place on the head also holds the ear cups in place.

A further object is to provide for the ready adaptation to the ordinary diving mask such as heretofore used, of the novel pressure-equalizing ear cups of this invention, through the simple expediency of connecting the interior of the mask as by means of flexible conduits with the interior of the ear cups which latter may be readily attached to and held in place by the head band of the standard mask.

With the foregoing objects in view, to ether with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a mask and ear cup unit embodying the present invention and shown as applied to the head of the user, and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mask-cup unit as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing more specifically it will be apparent that one embodiment of my invention includes a diving mask A dimensioned and contoured to fit over the eyes and nose of the wearer in the manner well known to this art, a head band B for holding the mask in place, ear cups C supported and held in place by said band for covering the ears of the wearer, and conduit means such as two flexible rubber tubes D for connecting the interior of the mask with the interior of the cups. With this arrangement when the wearer exhales through the nose into the mask, the pressure builds up alike in the mask and cups thereby counteracting the water pressure against the exterior of the mask and exterior of the cups and equalizing the pressure on the ear drums so that no discomfort or injury of the ears will take place.

As here shown the mask A includes a substantially cylindrical body portion 3 formed of somewhat flexible but form-retaining rubber or any other suitable form-retaining material. A glass or other transparent lens or front wall 4 is secured in any suitable manner in and closes the outer end of the body portion 3 whereas the other end of said body portion is contoured to fit closely against the face so as to cover the eyes and nose of the wearer to exclude water. The body portion has a diameter and length such that a com paratively large water tight chamber is provided in the area of the eyes and nose and the lens or front 4 is disposed at a proper distance from the eyes to assure clean vision.

On opposite sides of the mask body portion 3 are fittings 5 for connecting the conduits or tubes D so as to communicate with the interior of said body portion. The band B is preferably elastic and vulcanized or otherwise fixed to opposite sides of the mask body portion as at 6.

The ear cups C are made of rubber or any other suitable material and are substantially semi-spherical with their edges contoured to fit closely against the head so that the cups will cover the ears to prevent entrance of water into the ears. As here shown the cups are secured to the band B by means of fastenings I.

Fittings 8 are provided on the cups C for attaching the tubes D so that they will communicate with the interior of the cups.

It should be noted that the present invention is considered to encompass any conduit means or passage provisions by means of which the interior of the ear cups are afiorded communication with the interior of the mask for the purpose of building up counteracting pressures alike in the masks and cups incident to the wearer exhaling into the mask. Moreover it should be understood that my invention contemplates the use of the head band or any other suitable means for holding the ear cups in place.

It will now be apparent that I have provided a simple and inexpensive form of diving mask with associated pressure equalizing ear covering cups which will prevent ear discomfort and injury of the ears in most effective manner.

I claimzzra 1. The combination with a divingmask adapted to fit over the eyes and nose of the wearer and having a transparent front wall afiording Y vision of the wearer whileexcludingwwaten;from:- the nose and eyes, of ear-cups separated from? said mask and adapted to fit overthe ears of the wearer, a head band for holding-saidmask in:

place and to which said cups aanewattachednand. conduit means communicating the interior of the mask with the interior of said cups.

2. In a diving mask-.ear-cup unit, a mask dimensioned/ and contoured to fit against; the face so as to-.:eXclude-'waten from; the nose: and: eyes of the wearer, athererbeing atransparent-front; on

WALTER R. PFEIFFER.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowingreferences are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Dates:

1,139,850 Conkle" May 18;- 1915- 2,362,917 Malcomi- Nov. 14 194e 

